News

Local Head Start organization gets help from USD students

VERMILLION, S.D. -- Thirty-six students from The University of South Dakota worked with Vermillion’s Head Start organization. Through six different service-learning projects students designed and developed meaningful products that could be incorporated into the Head Start program.

The students, part of USD's "Family Systems and Professional Collaboration" class, created a marketing poster, brochures, a needs analysis and instructional kits for low income parents receiving services through Head Start.

Head Start was chosen as a community partner for the project because of the organization's commitment to and advocacy for parents.

Lory LaPointe, Ph.D., class instructor, incorporated service-learning into the class following a January workshop. She said, "I was amazed by the responsibility, creativity and maturity displayed by the students during this process. Once given initial guidance by a mentor from the Head Start staff, the students took ownership of their projects and developed and completed them independently," LaPointe added. "Having never used service-learning as a component in any class, I was thoroughly impressed by the level of authenticity, enthusiasm, and meaningfulness the process brought to my course. I will definitely include this as part of my coursework in the future."